Vehicle security device

ABSTRACT

A security device for a member, such as a door  11,  displaceable between a closed and an open position, the device—providing for the blocking of access to an operating means for the member, such as a handle or key entry, the device comprising: an anchorage member  20  mounting on the member as aforesaid with the member in an open position, at a working location in the vicinity of the operating means; a padlock  30  for attachment to the anchorage; and a housing  40  for attachment to the anchorage by way of the pad lock when the anchorage is attached to the door in the working location so that housing extends to cover the operating means; the housing including—a recess  42  to receive the padlock so that the padlock is shrouded by the housing; means (acting via  43 ) for securing the padlock to the housing when the padlock is located in the recess; means  44  for accessing an operating means, such as a key hole, for the padlock when shrouded by b the housing; to enable the padlock, when secured in the recess, to demountably retain the combined housing and pad lock to the anchorage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a vehicle security method and device. It isparticularly concerned with the security of a road vehicle. However themethod is applicable to vehicles other than road vehicles as will becomeapparent.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention is concerned with preventing unauthorised accessto door handles or key holes provided on doors to govern access to aninterior of, for example, a vehicle though the invention is not limitedto vehicle doors. In connection with motor vehicles it is known tobodily remove a lock from its housing by powerful, but portable,withdrawal means using leverage or hydraulic power.

In my co-pending Application 00 26309.5 there is described a vehiclesecurity device serving to resist unauthorised entry to the interior ofa vehicle through a window opening.

The present invention can be used in combination with the device of theearlier application to provide for increased security.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a security devicefor a member, such as a door, displaceable between a closed and an openposition, the device—providing for the blocking of access to anoperating means for the member, such as a handle or key entry, thedevice comprising:

-   -   an anchorage member mounting on the member as aforesaid with the        member in an open position, at a working location in the        vicinity of the operating means;    -   a padlock for attachment to the anchorage; and    -   a housing for attachment to the anchorage by way of the pad lock        when the anchorage is attached to the door in the working        location so that housing extends to cover the operating means;        the housing including    -   a recess for to receive the padlock so that the padlock is        isolated shrouded by the housing;    -   means for securing the padlock to the housing when the padlock        is located in the recess;    -   means for accessing an operating means, such as a key hole, for        the padlock when shrouded by the housing; to enable the padlock,        when secured in the recess, to demountably retain the combined        housing and pad lock to the anchorage.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention thesecurity device includes detector means for generating an alarm in theevent that an unauthorised attempt is made to remove the device from aworking location. Typically the detector means includes a movement orimpact sensitive device which, on triggering, causes a local alarm to begenerated and/or transmits an alarm signal to a receiver at a local orremote security center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle door;

FIG. 2 shows a first component of the security device viewed from therear;

FIG. 2A shows the component of FIG. 2 vied from the front;

FIG. 3 shows a second component of the security device from the side;

FIG. 3A shows the component of FIG. 3 viewed from the front;

FIG. 4 shows a housing for the security device viewed from the side; and

FIG. 4A shows the component of FIG. 4 in enlarged form.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are disposed relative to one another to show anexploded view of the security device.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A goods vehicle has a cab equipped with a door 11 mounted on frame Fshown in broken outline. The door 11 is hinged towards its leading edge12 in a conventional manner to rotate about axis A between a closedposition (as shown) and an open position allowing access to the cab.Rear edge 13 of the door 11 includes a rim 14. A conventional latch 15is mounted towards the rear edge 13 of the door which can be opened formthe inside of the vehicle by means of a handle 16, Outside panel 17 ofthe door 11 is provided with an external key hole and handle. A keyinserted into the key hole can be used to lock operation of the latchand handle to maintain the door 11 in a closed position. Adjacent theexternal keyhole (not shown) there is a conventional external doorhandle in the form of a recessed flap. The door 11 is shown in itsclosed position lying flush with body frame F.

Security device 19 of the present invention is made up of three parts:anchorage 20 (FIGS. 2, 2A); padlock 30 (FIGS. 3, 3A) and housing 40.(FIGS. 4, 4A).

Anchorage 20 (FIG. 2, 2A) is made up of a steel front flat plate 21 towhich is welded an L-shaped steel plate 22 to form a crutch 23 by meansof which the anchorage 20 can be mounted on the rear edge 13 of the doorin the vicinity of the external keyhole and door handle. The anchorage20 includes a strong integral loop 24.

Padlock 30 (FIGS. 3, 3A) is made up of a rectangular section body 31having a recess 32 across which extends bar 33. The bar 33 can be lockedand unlocked by way of a key inserted in keyhole 34 (FIG. 4A). Whenunlocked the bar 33 retracts part way back across the recess 32 torelease anything retained in the recess 32.

Housing 40 (FIGS. 4, 4A) is made up of a solid body member 41 with arecess 42 of sufficient size to receive and shroud security padlock 30.Bore 43 serves to receive a security bolt whereby the padlock can besecured within the recess 42 in a housed position in which bore 44provides access to key hole 34 of the padlock.

The security device 19 is readily mounted on door 11. The door 11 isopened and anchorage 20 is presented to the door so that crutch 23 seatsabout rim 14 with the loop 24 on the outside of the door panel 17. Thedoor 11 is then closed and locked by way of its existing lock. Thepadlock 30 is then attached to the loop 24 so that the loop is retainedin recess 32 by bar 33. The housing 40 is then located over the padlock30 so that the padlock 30 is enclosed by the recess 42 and with thehousing 40 serving to shroud the external handle and keyhole of the door11. The padlock 30 is secured in the recess 42 of the housing by asecurity bolt inserted into bore 43. The padlock is then unlocked orlocked by inserting a key for the padlock into bore 44.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABIITY

The security device 19 provides an effective means for preventingunauthorised access to a vehicle door keyhole (and also the outsidehandle).

The exemplary embodiment describes a security device for use with agoods vehide door. In substantially similar form the device can be usednot only on doors of goods, passenger vehicles and cars and but also onboots or bonnets of such vehicles. The device can be used in a similarway on other vehicles such as boats or aircraft. The device can also beused for static applications such as gates, cabinets, storageenclosures, kiosks, garages or buildings.

The housing 40 can include means for generating an alarm in the eventthat an unauthorised attempt is made to remove the device 19. Typicallythis could be a movement or impact sensitive means which, if triggered,could cause a local alarm to be generated and/or transmit a warningsignal to a receiver at a local or remote security center.

This application is a national stage completion of PCT/GB03/00326 filedJan. 27, 2003 which claims priority from British application serial no.0201873.7 filed Jan. 28 2002.

1. A security device for a member, such as a door, displaceable betweena closed and an open position, the device-providing for the blocking ofaccess to an operating means for the member, such as a handle or keyentry, the device being characterised by: an anchorage member mountingon the member as aforesaid with the member in an open position, at aworking location in the vicinity of the operating means; a padlock forattachment to the anchorage; and a housing for attachment to theanchorage by way of the pad lock when the anchorage is attached to thedoor in the working location so that housing extends to cover theoperating means; the housing including a recess for to receive thepadlock so that the padlock is isolated shrouded by the housing; meansfor securing the padlock to the housing when the padlock is located inthe recess; means for accessing an operating means, such as a key hole,for the padlock when shrouded by the housing; to enable the padlock,when secured in the recess, to demountably retain the combined housingand pad lock to the anchorage.
 2. A security device as claimed in claim1 characterised by detector means for generating an alarm in the eventthat an unauthorised attempt is made to remove the device from a workinglocation.
 3. A security device as claimed in claim 2 characterised inthat the detector means includes a movement or impact sensitive devicewhich, on triggering, causes a local alarm to be generated and/ortransmits an alarm signal to a receiver at a local or remote securitycenter.